Blackberry plant named ‘Natchez’

ABSTRACT

Description and specifications of a new and distinct blackberry cultivar named ‘Natchez’ which originated from seed produced by a hand pollinated cross of Ark. 2005 (non-patented)×Ark. 1857 (non-patented) is provided. This new blackberry cultivar can be distinguished by its high yields, large fruit size, good fruit quality, early season fruit ripening, prolific fruiting row establishment, and healthy plants.

Botanical designation: Rubus spp.

BACKGROUND

A new cultivar of blackberry called ‘Natchez’ is described herein. Thenew cultivar originated from a hand pollinated cross of Ark. 2005 andArk. 1857 made in 1998. The seeds resulting from this controlledhybridization were germinated in a greenhouse in the spring of 1999 andplanted in a field near Clarksville, Ark. The seedlings fruited duringthe summer of 2001 and one seedling, designated Ark. 2241, was selectedfor its early season of ripening, large fruit size, excellent fruitquality, excellent plant health, and thornless canes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct cultivar of blackberry originated from a handpollinated cross of Ark. 2005 (non-patented, unreleased genotype)×Ark.1857 (non-patented, unreleased genotype) made in 1998 and located nearClarksville, Ark. (West-Central Arkansas).

The seeds resulting from this controlled hybridization were germinatedin a greenhouse in the spring of 1999 and planted in a field nearClarksville, Ark. The seedlings fruited during the summer of 2001 andone seedling, designated Ark. 2241, was selected for its early season ofripening, large fruit size, excellent fruit quality, excellent planthealth, and thornless canes.

During 2001, the original plant selection was propagated asexually fromroot cuttings, at the above noted location, and a test row of 20 plantswas established. Subsequently, larger test plantings have beenestablished with asexually multiplied plants at the above noted locationand planted at three locations in Arkansas. Additionally, the cultivarhas been tested at test plots in Baxley, Ga. and Aurora, Oreg., and ateach location propagation was from root cuttings from the Clarksville,Ark. test plot.

The new cultivar has been asexually multiplied annually since 2001 bythe use of root cuttings and by rooting adventitious shoots from rootcuttings. It forms new shoots from adventitious buds on root cuttings(per 12 cm root cutting) more readily than Ouachita (U.S. Plant Pat. No.17,162) providing an average of 6.8 shoots compared to 1.2 for Ouachita.During all asexual multiplication, the characteristics of the originalplant have been maintained and no aberrant phenotypes have appeared.

Test plantings over a wide geographic area have shown this new cultivarto be adapted to differing soil and climatic conditions. The newcultivar has been named the ‘Natchez’ cultivar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new varietyin color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a colorillustration of this character.

FIG. 1 is a photograph showing a blackberry plant of the cultivar‘Natchez.’

FIG. 2 is a photograph showing the upperside of a primocane leaf of theplant.

FIG. 3 is a photograph showing blackberry fruit on the plant.

FIG. 4 is a photograph showing three blackberries from the plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR ‘NATCHEZ’

Plants and fruit of this new cultivar differ phenotypically from itsparents. The new cultivar is earlier ripening and larger in fruit sizethan the parent Ark. 2005, and is more productive and larger than parentArk.1857. The new cultivar retains larger fruit size throughout theharvest season than either of the parent blackberries. Althoughblackberries (Rubus subgenus Rubus) are highly heterogeneous andoutcrossing, and most clones contain genes from more than one species,the new cultivar and its progenitor lines phenotypically exhibitcharacters predominately of the erect eastern United States species,Rubus allegheniensis Porter (highbush blackberry) possibly introgressedwith R. argutus Link. (tall blackberry). Its genes for thornlessnesswere derived from the British cultivar ‘Merton Thornless’(non-patented), a derivative of Rubus ulmifolius Schott.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Natchez’ are vigorous and prolific and rowestablishment following planting is rapid. Both primocanes andfloricanes are erect to semi-erect in growth habit. The canes can betrained to a self-supporting hedgerow although it is beneficial to use atrellis with supporting wires to prevent canes from falling over due towind or heavy fruitloads. The plants are genetically thornless, havingthe recessive genes for thornless derived from the cultivar MertonThornless (non-patented). Plants and fruit are moderately resistant toanthracnose [Elsinoe veneta (Burkh.) Jenkins], and plants appear immuneto orange rust [Gymnoconia nitens (Schwein.) F. Kern and H.W. Thurston.]and double blossom/rosette [Cercosporella rubi (Wint.) Plakidas]. Thebloom period of the new cultivar averages 2 to 4 days earlier than thecultivar Ouachita.

Fruit of the ‘Natchez’ cultivar begins ripening 7 days earlier than thefruit of the cultivar Ouachita, and both have a similar fruiting periodwith average 35–40 days. Average first ripening date is June 3 inWest-Central Arkansas. Fruit yields of the new cultivar are usually 2.3to 3.2 kg (5 to 7 lb/plant) and are usually comparable to Ouachitacultivar at all test locations. Yields are consistent from year to year.

The fruit are long and cylindrical in shape, bright glossy black incolor and very attractive. The fruit are large (8–9 g) and 1.5 to 2.0 glarger than the size of the fruit of the Ouachita cultivar. Fruit sizeof the new cultivar is maintained well throughout the entire harvestseason. The new cultivar exhibits excellent fruit fertility with fulldrupelet set in contrast to Ouachita, which has slight drupeletsterility on some berries. The fruit is very firm at maturity, ratingnear that of Ouachita, Apache (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,865), and Navaho(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679) cultivars. Storage ability of fresh fruit ofthe new cultivar is comparable to that of Navaho, Apache, and Ouachitacultivars.

The fresh fruit rates good in flavor, being comparable to that ofArapaho (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,510) cultivar and slightly lower inrating than the fruit of Navaho. The flavor is sweet and mildly acidic,with a distinct blackberry aroma. The soluble solids concentrationaverages 9.5% on shiny black fruit, higher than fruit of Arapaho (7.7%)and lower than fruit of Ouachita (9.8%) and Navaho (10.1%). Dry seedweight averages 4.2 mg/seed, and seeds are comparable to those ofOuachita.

Fruit clusters are medium-large, cymose, and are mostly borne on theperiphery of the plant canopy, providing easy access to harvest. Flowerfertility is high and clusters are well filled.

The following is a detailed description of the botanical and pomologicalcharacteristics of the subject blackberry. Color data are presented inRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart designations. Where dimensions,sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to beunderstood that such characteristics are approximations of averages setforth as accurately as practicable.

Plants used for botanical data were three years old and grown in a finesandy loam soil with trickle irrigation at the Fruit Research Stationnear Clarksville, Ark. The plants were fertilized annually with nitrogenfertilizer, primocanes tipped at approximately 45 inches, and grow in ahedgerow training system. Weeds were controlled with pre- andpost-emergence herbicides. A single application of liquid lime sulfurwas applied to the plants at budbreak, but not other fungicides wereapplied. The descriptions reported herein are from specimens grown atClarksville, Ark. unless otherwise noted.

-   Plant:    -   -   Size.—Medium.        -   Growth habit.—Vigorous, with moderate suckering from crowns,            moderate suckering from roots, canes erect to semi-erect.        -   Productivity.—High and for duration of five weeks;            consistent from year to year. Yields consistently range from            2.3 to 3.2 kg (5 to 7 lb/plant), comparable to Ouachita            (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,162).        -   Cold hardiness.—Hardy to −14° C. (7° F.), comparable to            Ouachita.        -   Canes.—Thornless, erect to semi-erect. Floricane (dormant or            winter cane) diameter: base 1.85 cm, midpoint 1.38 cm,            terminal 1.12 cm. Primocane (current season cane, late            season) diameter: base 1.71 cm, midpoint 1.41 cm, terminal            0.56 cm. Floricane internode length: base 4.43 cm, midpoint            5.20 cm, terminal 2.36 cm. Primocane internode length: base            2.80 cm, midpoint 3.25 cm, terminal 4.0 cm. Floricane color:            base-Greyed Orange Group (166A) over Yellow Green Group            (144A); midpoint-Yellow Greyed Orange Group (166A) over            Yellow Green Group (144A); terminus-Greyed Orange Group            (166A) over Yellow Green Group (144A). Primocane color:            base-Greyed-Orange Group (176A) over Green Group (143C);            midpoint-Greyed-Orange Group (176A) over Green Group (143C);            terminus-Greyed-Purple Group (183A) over Green Group (143C).            Date of primocane emergence: April 12.        -   Disease resistance.—Moderate resistance to anthracnose; no            orange rust or double blossom/rosette observed on plants in            trial plots where these diseases were present on other            cultivars.-   Foliage:    -   -   Primocane.—Leaves — Large. Mature compound leaf width 15.58            cm; length 17.36 cm. Leaflet: Width 6.32 cm; length 10.88            cm; shape cordate with acuminate apex and cordate base;            margin serrated, serration teeth length 0.38 cm, and width            at base 0.29 cm; very light pubescence on abaxial surface.            Number of leaflets per compound leaf: 5. Color: Base            abaxial-Green Group (137A); adaxial-Green Group (137A);            midpoint abaxial-Green Group (137A); adaxial-Green Group            (137A); terminal abaxial-Green Group (137A); adaxial-Green            Group (137A). Petioles — Length: 5.86 cm. Color: Yellow            Green Group (146B). Petiolules — Length: 2.74 cm. Color:            Green Group (146B). Stipules — Length: 1.01 cm. Width: 0.064            cm.        -   Floricane.—Leaves — Medium. Mature compound leaf width 7.93            cm; length 8.97 cm. Leaflet: width 4.33 cm; length 6.63 cm;            shape cordate, with acuminate apex and cordate base; margin            serrated, with serration teeth length 0.44 cm and width at            base 0.49 cm; light pubescence on abaxial. Number of            leaflets per compound leaf: 3. Color: base abaxial-Yellow            Green Group (148B); adaxial-Yellow Green Group (146A);            midpoint abaxial-Yellow Green Group (148B); adaxial-Yellow            Green Group (146A); terminal abaxial-Yellow Green Group            (148B); adaxial-Yellow Green Group (146A). Petioles —            Length: 2.47 cm. Color: Yellow-Green Group (146C).            Petiolules — Length 0.63 cm. Color: Yellow-Green Group            (146C). Stipules — Length: 0.44 cm. Width: 0.21 cm.-   Flowers:    -   -   Date of bloom.—First — Julian 108 (April 17); 50% — Julian            115 (April 24); Last — Julian 129 (May 8).        -   Blossom color.—White Group (155D).        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens — erect, numerous. Pistils —            numerous. Pollen — normal and abundant. Self fertile.        -   Flower diameter.—3.16 cm.        -   Petal size.—Length: 1.63 cm. Width: 1.38 cm.        -   Number flowers per cluster.—Mean of 7 with range of 4 to 10.        -   Number of petals per flower.—6.        -   Number of sepals per flower.—5 to 6.        -   Peduncle length.—1.83 cm.        -   Peduncle color.—Yellow-Green Group (146B).        -   Cyme type.—Elongate simple cyme.-   Fruit:    -   -   Maturity.—Early season, 7 days before Ouachita. Average            first ripe date is June 3. Average period of ripening is            June 3 to July 11.        -   Size.—Large, average 9.4 g, uniform. Diameter: Fruit at            primary position on inflorescence: equator 2.11 cm, base            pole 2.26 cm, terminal pole 1.90 cm; fruit at secondary            positions on inflorescence: equator 2.13 cm., base pole 2.20            cm, terminal pole 1.85 cm. Length (Primary fruit) 3.64 cm.        -   Shape.—Long, cylindrical, uniform.        -   Color.—Glossy black; Black Group (202A).        -   Drupelet size.—Medium, 0.51 cm.        -   Seed size.—Length 0.37 cm, width 0.212 cm, 0.01 g (dry wt.,            individual seed).        -   Soluble solids.—9.4%.        -   pH.—3.05 (as measured by pH meter on undiluted juice from a            sample of 25 fully-ripe berries).        -   Acidity.—0.94 g citric acid/100 ml.        -   Processed quality.—Not evaluated in processing.        -   Uses.—Fresh is main use but can be processed for jellies,            jams, juice, wine.-   The variety: The most distinctive features of the variety are its    high yields, large fruit size, good fruit quality, early season    fruit ripening, prolific fruiting row establishment, and healthy    plants.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of blackberry plant named ‘Natchez’,substantially as illustrated and described.